Dodgers Rockies Game 3 Preview

After another marathon of a game, the Dodgers are looking for their seventh consecutive series victory and their 11th victory against the Rockies this season.

I’m mad that I used all my “super long game” lines and tweets after their 14 inning game against San Francisco on August 31. Last night was two innings longer and infinitely more stupid, because the Dodgers lost. It was a team effort loss, so before you go blaming Mat Latos or Chris Heisey or Yasmani Grandal, just know that it was a bad game in general. I don’t think it came as a surprise to anyone that Latos gave up the game winning run, but he made a pretty good pitch and just got beat by a guy that would be in the MVP discussion if the Rockies weren’t a horrible team. I’ve given Latos flack in the past and I’m far from a fan of his, but I can’t fault him for yesterday. In a weird way, I was just happy the game ended. Once the Giants lost, I stopped caring about the outcome of last night’s game and just wanted it to end and no one to get hurt.

Jul 22, 2015; Denver, CO, USA; Colorado Rockies starting pitcher Jorge De La Rosa (29) delivers a pitch during the first inning against the Texas Rangers at Coors Field. Mandatory Credit: Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports

Hopefully there’s no hangover effect and Alex Wood can bounce back from his worst start as a Dodger. He gave up six runs and got five outs in his last game against Arizona, which math tells me is a pretty bad ratio. I’m still not sure whether I would rather have Wood or Brett Anderson start game three in the postseason. I think I prefer Wood coming out of the bullpen, but if he can show the ability to pitch into the seventh and eighth inning I might change my mind on that.

Wood has not fared well against the Rockies in the past in a very limited sample. In 12 2/3 innings, Wood has allowed 16 hits and 10 runs against Colorado and struck out 13 batters. Nolan Arenado is the only current Rockie to homer against Wood in the past.

Jorge De La Rosa gets the ball for the Rockies and he’s somehow been in the league for 12 years. He’s about as ace-y as pitchers can be in Colorado and he takes his 4.28 ERA (4.22 FIP) to Dodger Stadium. De La Rosa is slightly better outside of Coors (3.36 ERA), but hasn’t fared much better at Dodger Stadium in his career. He owns a 4.12 ERA in 52 career innings at Chavez Ravine and has only struck out 30 batters.

Despite being left handed, De La Rosa has struggled against a few of the Dodger lefties. Adrian Gonzalez has 17 hits (nine extra base hits) in 48 career ABs against De La Rosa and Chase Utley is 7-17 in the past against him.

This is a real life lineup. I don’t even have anything witty to say.

First pitch is scheduled for 7:10 PST and will be shown on Sportsnet LA.